KittitasCountyCWPP_September2022_Amendment_Only (2)

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20 Year Plan Landscape Goals Overarching:  Improve safety and fire protection for people and homes.  Increase resilience to drought and wildfire by creating open canopy forest with resistant tree species and a large tree component.  Maintain large tree, dense forest in the least fire and drought prone areas to sustain dense forest dependent wildlife species. Reduce wildfire risk: Fire risk is high to very high along most of the northern and southern ridges that encompass the valley (Fig. 1). As fires are most likely to come from the north, the highest priority treatments are on the lower to upper slopes of Cle Elum ridge (northern ridge), and along the lower to mid slopes of the southern ridge. In the central part of the valley, the agricultural lands and extensive floodplain forests along the Yakima river provide a natural fire break. Treatments to reduce fire risk are low priority along the north facing, upper slopes of the southern ridge, where dense forest is sustainable. Some areas are predicted to burn as low-intensity ground fires, which will have beneficial effects by consuming fuels. Most of these areas are recently treated areas on DNR and private land. Prepare for climate change: Projected warming will increase moisture stress and thus probability of wildfire and insect outbreaks. By mid-century, 45% of the planning area is projected to have moisture stress levels currently associated with woodland and shrub-steppe (Fig. 2). Treatments to aggressively reduce density and shift to drought- tolerant species on currently high, and future ex- treme, deficit areas will help maintain forest cover on sites for as long as possible. Sustain wildlife habitat: Large patches of white headed wood pecker habitat exist on the south facing slopes of Cle Elum Ridge and in the far eas tern portion the planning area. Treatments on dry sites will increase this habitat if prescriptions incorporate habitat considerations. Ha bitat for moderate to closed canopy dependent species exists on north facing slopes of the southern ridge and in the northwest corner. Treatments are not recommended in most of this area. Fires that burn at characteristic severity in all forest types can benef it habitat by creating snags and stimulating higher understory plant abundance and diversity. Enhance rural economic development: Reducing fire risk will help maintain recreational opportunities and associated economic activity. Commercial treatments are possible on many of the recommended acres. However, the small size of many parcels, the high number of vacation homes, and limited roa d access on Forest Service land make commercial treatments difficult in many areas. Non -commercial treatments will require major investments and will provide a major source of work for local contractors. Warming trends will make it increasingly difficult to sustain long term timber production in the eastern and northern portions of the planning area. Landscape Highlights The Cle Elum planning area combines high fire risk along the northern and southern ridges with extensive development in the valley and foothills. Ownership of forestland is dominated by small private landowners (56%), along with Forest Service (19%), the N ature Conservancy (14%), and the DNR (8%). Based on current conditions data from 2017, treating an estimated 15,500 - 23,000 acres of dense forest is recommended to reduce fire risk to communities and move the move the landscape into a resilient condi- tion. Community wildfire preparedness efforts are currently scaling up to address the large need to treat parcels with homes . Creating additional defensible space on Nature Conservancy, USFS, and undeveloped private land near communities is also a priority. Ma inte- nance treatments on existing open forest are needed on 2,500 -5,500 acres. In sum, treating 27-43% of the forested acres is recom- mended. This planning area will be expanded to include the Cle Elum Lake watershed in the 2020 planning cycle. Cle Elum Planning Area Landscape Evaluation Summary Total Acres Forested Acres Treatment Goal (Acres) 89,479 66,811 18,000 - 28,500 Definitions (see Appendix for data sources and methods): Dry: Ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir dominated forests that historically supported ground fires every 5-25 years. Moist: forests that historically had mixed severity fires and were dominated by fire resistant species on sites with more frequent fire (~30 -80 years) and fire intolerant species such as grand fir on sites with less fire. Cold: Upper elevation mixed conifer forests with high severity fires every 80-200+ years. Woodland/Steppe: Grass and shrublands that may have oak woodlands or up to 10% cover of conifer trees. Size classes: Large: overstory diameter (OD) > 20”; Medium: OD 10-20”; Small: OD <10”. Canopy cover classes: Open: <40%; Dense: >40%. Fuels: shrubs, grasses, small trees, duff, & dead woody material. Current Years 1981-2010 Future Years 2041-2070 Figure 1. Wildfire risk to homes, infrastructure & forests. Figure 2. Current and future moisture deficit levels. Moisture deficit is a measure of water stress faced by plants. Risk is a combination of fire probability, fire intensity, and susceptibility to fire.